Twister rings



Oct. 2, 1962 A. w. KEIGHT 3,056,251

TWISTER RINGS F iled'April 21, 1959 i l in v 1 11 H H Patented Oct.'2, 1962;

3,056,251 TWISTER RINGS Albert Walter Keight, Charlotte, N.C., assignor to Celanese Corporation of America, New York, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Filed Apr. 21, 1959, Ser. No. 807,921 5 Claims. (Cl. 57122) This invention relates to textile machinery, more particularly to a novel construction for twister rings as used on yarn spinning frames.

The conventional spinning frame employs a plurality of spindles arranged in a row beneath a vertically reciprocated rail. Supported by the rail are a plurality of twister rings, one for each spindle, with said rings arranged to be reciprocated by the rail along the length of its associated spindle. A traveler is arranged to move about the ring so that a yarn end engaged by said traveler will be twisted and wound about a bobbin supported on each spindle.

A variety of problems is engendered in the provision of the necessary rings to insure eflicient operation of the spinning frame, since they are generally subjected to continuous use, and the rate of speed at which the traveler moves over the ring is such as to result in wear which requires periodic replacement of either the ring, or the traveler, or both. Separate holders are provided for securing the ring with respect to the ring rail in the interest of economy, since the holders need not be replaced as frequently as the rings. Generally it is necessary to provide some lubricating means in order to facilitate the smooth passage of the traveler over the ring.

It is a primary object of this invention to provide an improved twister ring structure.

Another object of the invention is to provide a twister ring structure which may be molded inexpensively.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a twister ring structure which may readily be fabricated of a plastic having surface properties providing a relatively low coefficient of friction between the surface of the twister ring and a traveler.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a novel twister ring structure which may be formed integrally with the holder necessary to maintain the twister ring in operative position with respect to the ring rail of the yarn spinning frame.

These and other objects of the invention, which will become apparent in the following disclosure and claims, are achieved by provision of a twister ring assembly comprising an integral ring and holder molded of a plastic having a low dynamic coeflicient of friction with respect to the traveler which may be made, for example, of steel, brass, plastic, etc. Nylon, for example, has a dynamic coefficient of friction with respect to steel of about 0.20 or less. Desirably the plastic is abrasion resistant even in the absence of external lubrication, due to self-lubricity, and is stiff. Nylon, for example, has a stiffness in excess of about 300,000 p.s.i., e.g. about 400,000, according to ASTM D-747-50. The assembly is formed with a center ring portion having a reinforcing flange extending outwardly from the outer periphery of said ring portion, a protecting annulus surrounding said flange, and a bottom holder flange extending outwardly from said annulus. Diametrically opposed slotted fingers are arranged on the holder flange permitting securement of the entire assembly to the ring rail as will become hereinafter more apparent. The positioning of the reinforcing flange with respect to the ring member provides the necessary rein forcement to permit the ring and its associated holder to be molded as a unitary assembly with the ring being true and rigid so as not to be subject to undesired warpage in manufacture and subsequent use.

While nylon gives outstanding results, e.g. nylon 6/6, nylon 6/ 10 and nylon 6, the assembly may be molded of other plastics which preferably are thermoplastic, e.g. polyacetal resins such as polyoxymethylene and the like.'

The specific structural details of a preferred embodiment of the invention, and their mode of functioning will be made most manifest and particularly pointed out in clear, concise and exact terms in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 represents a top plan view of a portion of a ring rail illustrating how the novel textile ring assembly is maintained in operative position with respect to said rail;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the novel twister ring assembly; and

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional View through the twister ring assembly taken on line 33 of FIG. 1.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, like numerals in the various figures will be taken to designate like parts.

As best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, the twister ring assembly 10 is formed with a center ring portion 11 having the shape of a conventional right circular cylinder and having a substantially uniform wall thinness, whereby warpage resulting from uneven heat distribution in the ring will be mitigated, whether this heat arises during production or subsequent use of the ring. Extending outwardly from the outer periphery of center ring portion 11 is a reinforcing flange 12. An annulus 13 is arranged about flange 12, and a holder flange 14 extends outwardly from upstanding flange 13 as best seen in FIG. 3. A traveler 15 is hooked over ring 11.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention two opposed slotted securing fingers 16 and 17 respectively are diametrically arranged extending outwardly from holder flange 13 as best viewed in FIGS. 1 and 2.

As viewed in FIG. 3, it can thus be seen that in a crosssection defined by a plane in which the axis of the ring 11 lies the ring cross-section is elongate, in this instance in its vertical dimension. The flange 12 projects from the elongate dimension of the ring. Annular member 13 projects from flange 12 substantially parallel to the elongate dimension of the ring 11, i.e. vertically. The successive projections constitute an angulated structure which minimizes warping of the assembly.

Operation Conventional molding techniques are utilized to form a suitable plastic, e.g. nylon, into the herein disclosed novel twister ring assembly, which includes the holder, as a unitary structure.

The twister ring assembly 10 is thereafter secured in position with respect to ring rail R by means of conventional fastening means F, here shown in the form of suitable flanged bolts adapted to engage the slots of fingers 16 and 17 respectively. It will, of course, be apparent to those skilled in the art that the fingers 16 and 17 may be eliminated Without departing from the scope of the invention.

Traveler 15 formed of steel, brass, other metal, or the like, is thereafter positioned to ride over the inner part of ring 11. It will be observed that in operation the ring and traveler require only little lubrication due to the low coeflicient of friction between the traveler and the ring and the self-lubrication of the ring. Lubricating systems operating automatically require expensive apparatus, are ineflicient in the use of oil and vary the yarn quality. Ordinary manually filled lubricating systems are also wasteful of oil and improper filling dirties the plant; in addition the labor required is excessive. With the novel rings, however, the lubricant consumption is so small that the rings need be lubricated, as with grease, only infrequently making it economically worthwhile to supply lubricant manually.

The rigidity necessary to insure the formation of the ring in the shape of a true circle is provided by annular flange '12 which serves to rigidity the ring 11, without providing a cross sectional area resulting in uneven heat accumulations in the ring which might produce warpage. In addition, the traveler is protected with respect to the surface of the ring rail by virtue of the dished position of ring 11 with respect to the surface of holder flange 14.

It is thus seen that a novel twister ring assembly has been provided in which a ring and holder are formed as a unitary structure in such a way that this unitary structu-re may readily be fabricated of a plastic providing a surface with a low coefficient of friction. Additionally the use of plastics in the fabrication of the twister ring assembly permits a substantial reduction of costs since they can be molded rather than being machined.

It is to be understood that the foregoing detailed description is given merely by way of illustration and that many variations may be made therein without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having described my invention what I desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A twister ring assembly for use in combination with the ring rail of a yarn twisting frame, said ring assembly comprising ring means which is elongate in a cross section defined by a plane in which the axis of said ring means lies reinforcing means projecting from said ringmeans along a portion of the elongate dimension thereof and protecting means concentric with and spaced from said ring means and connected thereto through said reinforcing means, said protecting means projecting from said reinforcing means in a direction substantially parallel to the elongate dimension of said ring means and said successive projections resulting in an angulated structure such that warping of said twister ring assembly is minimized, said entire assembly being formed of the same stiff, abrasion-resistant synthetic plastic having a low coefiicient of friction with respect to steel and said assembly means including means for attaching said assembly to said ring rail.

2. A twister ring assembly according to claim 1, wherein said plastic is nylon.

3. A twister ring assembly according to claim 1, wherein said plastic is a polyacetal resin.

4. A twister ring assembly according to claim 1, wherein said polyacetal resin is a polyoxymethylene.

5. A twister ring assembly according to claim 1, Wherein said ring means is substantially vertical.

References Cited in the fileof this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 501,243 Chapman July 11, 1893 2,718,112 Wayson Sept. 20, 1955 2,796,727 Katerman June 25, 1957 2,926,484 Ladd Mar. 1, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS 565,796 Great Britain Nov. 28,, 1944.

1,070,733 France Aug. 10, 1954 

